School Details
Portland State University is a public state university located in Portland, Oregon. Established in 1946, PSU began as the Vanport Extension Center as a way to meet the needs of higher education for those returning from World War II. Over the years, with its constantly expanding degree programs, PSU became the largest and fastest-growing school in the Oregon University System. Today PSU is helping students pursue excellence while also leading the way to an equitable and sustainable future through “…academic excellence, urban engagement, and expanding opportunity for all.”
PSU offers students several degree levels, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral. Many of the certificates and degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels are available completely online. Portland State University online degrees are student-focused and taught by exceptional faculty. Complete an online program with high academic standards that is also flexible. Set your own schedule as you earn a respected degree and progress in your life and career.
Accreditation & Licensing
Portland State University is accredited by:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
In the online Bachelor in Arts & Letters degree completion program from Portland State University, you'll draw on courses from multiple subjects to create your own academic focus, graduating with a well-rounded degree. You'll also develop knowledge and skills that are highly valued in the job market, such as creative problem solving, critical thinking, writing, research, multimedia communication, and technological savvy. The arts and letters curriculum offers a wide range of course options from the areas of:
- Applied Linguistics
- Architecture
- Art & Art History
- Communications
- Conflict Resolution
- English
- Philosophy
- Music
- Theater Arts & Film
- World Languages & Literatures
- Writing
The online Bachelor in Liberal Studies degree completion program from Portland State University enables you to focus on your personal interests as you choose courses with guidance from advisors and faculty. The main curriculum consists of courses in arts and letters, sciences, and social sciences, in addition to electives that pique your interest. Overall, this degree program is particularly strong in developing knowledge and skills in:
- Writing
- Critical thinking
- Research & analysis
- Creative problem solving
- Community engagement
- Media fluency
- Social & environmental responsibility
In an increasingly complex political environment, professionals and managers with collaborative skills are highly sought after. The online Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Governance program from Portland State University prepares you to meet the growing demand for collaborative responses to public issues and challenges. The curriculum addresses:
- The current governing context and the new models that have emerged in response
- Assessment, organization, and phases of facilitating collaborative agreement-seeking processes
- Conventional and innovative applications of negotiations in public sector activities
Business
Businesses today are looking for professionals with key skills in both business and technology. With the online bachelor’s degree in Business Technology and Analytics, you will be at the forefront of a growing and in-demand field in the business world.
Coursework features real-world scenarios in analytics, databases, security, app development, and systems design. You will learn how to use data for business purposes through theoretical, practical, and ethical principles. Critical thinking skills prepare you to question data and your findings to ensure quality results.
Some of the topics covered in this online Business Analytics degree include:
- Business Problem Solving with Analytics & Visualization
- Database Management
- Business Analytics with Programming
- Systems Analysis & Design
- Privacy & Security
The online bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management is designed for students who think strategically and enjoy supporting others in the workplace. You will learn how to manage all functions of Human Resources, from hiring to improving productivity to using data analytics to reach strategic objectives.
The curriculum of this online HR Management degree program combines textbook theories with practical skill development. Real-world HR professionals routinely participate in class discussions, offer internship opportunities, and mentor students through a community-based capstone course. Students learn up-to-date techniques, technologies, and data analytics tools that can help them land leadership positions.
Graduates can pursue management positions in areas including:
- Recruitment and hiring
- Performance management
- Leadership development
- HR information systems
- Labor relations
- Employee rewards and compensation
Gain leadership skills that can be implemented at any level of management with this online bachelor’s degree in Management and Leadership. Coursework focuses on specific, outcome-based techniques useful for managing employees in various situations.
Classes discuss leadership challenges across industries. Students are encouraged to combine practical knowledge and skills with a forward-thinking mindset. Graduates will understand how to use storytelling techniques, build inclusive cultures, integrate data analysis with critical thinking skills in decision making, and manage resources effectively.
Core coursework in this online organizational leadership degree program covers four main topics:
- Human Resource Management
- Team Processes
- Organization Design and Change
- Contemporary Leadership Issues
Pursue a flexible online degree program in a highly in-demand job sector with the bachelor’s degree in Supply and Logistics Management. This program is just one of three in the US that has received certification from the Institute for Supply Management.
The curriculum prepares you to acquire resources, distribute products, and effectively manage supply chains on a global scale. Faculty offer years of real-world experience in the supply and logistics field. Graduates of this online operations management degree will have a well-rounded business education, allowing them to participate in market demand forecasting, production planning, trend analysis, and more.
Areas open to graduates of this program include:
- Supply chain analysis
- Global logistics
- Transportation
- Supply chain consulting
- Procurement analysis
With a Certificate in Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, you will be able to drive meaningful change through your current workplace or a new startup of your own. Students in this program learn how to create practical and effective solutions to challenges in society and the environment.
Learn how to address issues that matter to you through nonprofit organizations, business strategy, governmental programs, or advocacy campaigns. Experienced faculty serve as mentors to help you get your ideas past the drawing board and avoid common pitfalls. Real-world field studies help solidify concepts learned through coursework.
Graduates can use this certificate to pursue roles in:
- Entrepreneurship
- Corporate responsibility
- Nonprofit leadership
- Civic engagement and outreach
- Government administration
- Community programming
Add to your business skill set with a Graduate Certificate in Business Intelligence and Analytics. This online graduate program provides cutting edge technology skills that can boost your value and role in the workplace.
Technical professionals can benefit from the advanced data analytics training provided in this program. Courses teach you how to gather, analyze, organize, and interpret large data sets. You will study ways to apply data analytics in settings including market research, financial analysis, risk management, and more. Balance your career and educational goals with an online program that can be completed in just nine months.
Some of the topics covered in this certificate program include:
- Decision Support Systems: Data Warehousing
- Data Mining with Information Theory
- Data Visualization
This highly concentrated graduate certificate allows you to gain leadership skills in Global Supply Chain Management in a flexible, four course online program. Advance your career with the Graduate Certificate in Global Supply Chain Management.
Developed in collaboration with a number of global manufacturers, this program ensures real-world applicability. Courses cover emerging technologies affecting supply chain management. Case studies allow you to study issues in online commerce, sustainable product lifecycle management, and more.
Graduates can pursue roles in:
- Logistics management
- Operations
- Transportation
- Industry analysis
- Project management
- Independent consulting
HR professionals can gain marketable skills by pursuing an online Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Analytics. With the skills you gain from this program, you can use data to implement better employee hiring, management, development, and retention strategies.
Courses cover vital topics such as business strategy, theory, scientific process, and communication. With an understanding of tools including R and Tableau, you will be able to provide key insights from business data. Coursework serves to increase your abilities in interpretation and communication of trends. This online graduate program can be completed in as little as nine months.
The curriculum covers subjects including:
- Asking HR questions and telling HR stories
- Analytics tools and applications
- HR metrics and analytics in daily operations
- Data visualization
With the Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, you will learn how to create practical and effective solutions to social and environmental issues. This field uniquely provides meaning and purpose to your business career or nonprofit leadership.
Innovation is key whether you are an entrepreneur starting your own enterprise or an employee of a mission-driven organization. Learn how to address issues that matter to you through nonprofit work, business initiatives, government programs, and advocacy campaigns. Students are able to tailor coursework to incorporate their own ideas and goals.
Throughout this four-course program, students will:
- Refine their leadership and career purpose
- Apply Human-Centered Design best practices
- Use the Business Model Canvas to map out a venture
- Learn about funding sources
- Create a financial forecast
- Develop a plan for measuring and reporting impact
- Practice effective storytelling and presentation skills
The online Graduate Certificate in Taxation offers a highly focused program that can be completed in less time than a traditional master’s degree. You will be able to immediately apply new knowledge and techniques to your current role or use the certificate to further your career.
Coursework is geared towards the needs of professionals in fields such as accounting, law, business, financial planning, and more. Students with an accounting bachelor’s degree can also utilize this program to complete educational requirements for the CPA exam. The curriculum was developed with input from corporate tax accountants and public accountants, ensuring that course materials are relevant and up-to-date.
The program is highly customizable, with electives available in areas including:
- Taxation of property transactions
- Pass-through entities
- International taxation
- Taxation of estates, gifts, and trusts
- Financial statement analysis
Technology skills will continue to be highly sought after in the business community. Make yourself a valuable asset in any organization with a Master of Science in Applied Data Science for Business. Skills from this program will allow you to analyze business data so stakeholders can make the best-informed decisions.
Students will come away from this graduate program with an understanding of cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Coursework also covers business strategy, data visualization, and the ethics and security of data. You will be able to apply your education from this online business analytics degree to a wide variety of business functions.
Specializations are available in:
- Business Blockchain
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
- HR Analytics
- Health & Clinical Informatics
The online Global Supply Chain Management degree is designed for working professionals looking to advance in their career, regardless of an organization’s size. Further enhance your skills and knowledge of information flows, commercial networks, and new technologies in efficient global supply chains. Utilizing a practical learning model, instruction combines real-world scenarios, focuses on innovative analytics and is based on international business and relevance for today’s business. You will have the opportunity to connect with peers through the school’s interactive online learning platform, all while benefiting from flexibility in scheduling.
Studies include topics such as:
- Business analytics
- Global leadership and ethics
- Global supply chain strategy
Gain advanced tax expertise with the online Master of Taxation program. Graduates of this program will have key skills making them in high demand in this field. In addition to core tax knowledge and accounting skills, students will enhance valuable soft skills such as communication, research, and critical thinking, giving them an advantage in their job search.
Whether you’re a full-time student or full-time employee, this flexible online program is built to fit your scheduling needs. Depending on your course load, this online accounting degree can be completed in 12-24 months.
Courses cover topics such as:
- Taxation of property transactions
- Corporate taxation
- Pass-through entities
- Tax accounting methods and periods
- Financial accounting for income taxes
If you need additional credits beyond your bachelor’s degree to pursue Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure, consider the online Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting. This concentrated program provides Accounting skills to students from any undergraduate background.
Coursework emphasizes applied skills useful in the workplace. You will gain experience with industry-standard accounting software including Tableau and Quickbooks. In addition to pursuing CPA certification, you can use this online program to earn a promotion, expand your job responsibilities, or explore a new career path.
Graduates can find employment in sectors such as:
- Consulting
- Corporate accounting
- Managerial accounting
- Governmental accounting
- Nonprofit accounting
Computer Science & IT
Be at the forefront of technological advancements in the business world with this first-of-its-kind Certificate in Business Blockchain. In this innovative online program, you will have the opportunity for hands-on practice with distributed ledger technology, allowing you to create and execute transactions and smart contracts.
The curriculum was created in collaboration with blockchain professionals and includes use cases, guest speakers, and industry mentors. In addition to cryptocurrency, you will learn about multiple areas where blockchain skills can benefit business, such as supply chain, finance, healthcare, and real estate. Students will also enhance their critical thinking skills to make the best-informed decisions in the workplace.
Courses include:
- Blockchain Fundamentals
- Blockchain and Exponential Technology
- Blockchain in Business
- Blockchain Uses and Applications
- Emerging Topics in Blockchain
Gain a technological edge with this first-of-its-kind Graduate Certificate in Business Blockchain. Students in this online program will benefit from hands-on practice with distributed ledger technology, creating and executing transactions and smart contracts.
With a certificate in Business Blockchain, you will have a competitive advantage with one of the most in-demand job skills. You will learn how to evaluate blockchain applications from the perspective of the end user, system engineer, and C-suite executive. Business and technology leaders provide real-world readiness through use cases, serve as guest speakers, and offer industry mentorship.
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
You can train for leadership roles in crime prevention with the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice from Portland State University. The online criminal justice degree leads to work with law enforcement agencies as well as such sectors as:
- Politics
- Business
- Investigations
- Nonprofit leadership
Through the online criminal justice bachelor’s degree program, you gain the knowledge and skills to step into leadership roles. Graduates find success as magistrates, legal assistants, case managers. victim advocates, policy and crime analysts, and more.
You can learn about crime and criminal behavior with the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Criminology & Criminal Justice from Portland State University. The online criminal justice program leads to work in such sectors as:
- Private security
- Law enforcement
- The courts
- Social work
Through the online criminal justice certificate program, you learn how our criminal justice system operates, from crime prevention to enforcement, rehabilitation, and more. Students employ the use of research and data analysis to examine the factors that create and prevent crime.
Education
The online Graduate Certificate in Service-Learning and Community-Based Learning in Postsecondary Education from Portland State University prepares students to help adult learners in colleges and workplace environments. This practical online program helps students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to advance their careers. Students may add outside electives to create a personalized learning experience that aligns with their career goals.
Classes include, but are not limited to:
- Developmental perspectives on adult learning
- Social foundations of education
- Educational organization and administration
Graduates go on to work in workplace education and training, academic support services, higher education academic affairs, adult learning settings, schools, businesses, nonprofits, and more. This flexible online program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Graduates of this program feel prepared to begin applying their skills immediately.
Portland State University offers an online Graduate Certificate in Teaching Adult Learners. The program is for those who want to learn more about facilitating adult learning and teaching. The program can be useful for those working in colleges or workplace settings.
Portland State University offers an online Master of Arts or Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction. This program offers students a professional education in curriculum design for a variety of grades and ages. A degree such as this can prepare graduates for advanced teaching and leadership.
Portland State University offers an online Master of Arts in Early Childhood / Inclusive Education & Curriculum & Instruction. This program allows educators to truly master curriculum design and instruction at the early childhood education level. The coursework includes interactive experiences and students can choose from areas of concentration, including:
- Constructivism in Early Childhood
- Infant/Toddler Mental Health
- Early Childhood Special Education
Portland State University offers an online Master of Arts in Early Intervention Special Education degree. The program provides intense preparation to become licensed in the special education field dealing specifically with young children. Anyone who works with young children aged 0-5 with disabilities may benefit from this program.
Portland State University offers an online Master of Arts or Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction. This program offers students a professional education in curriculum design for a variety of grades and ages. A degree such as this can prepare graduates for advanced teaching and leadership.
Portland State University offers an online Master of Science in Early Childhood / Inclusive Education & Curriculum & Instruction. This program allows educators to truly master curriculum design and instruction at the early childhood education level. Studies include interactive experiences and students can choose from specializations, such as:
- Constructivism in Early Childhood
- Infant/Toddler Mental Health
- Early Childhood Special Education
Portland State University offers an online Master of Science in Early Intervention Special Education degree. The program provides intense preparation to become licensed in the special education field dealing specifically with young children. Anyone who works with young children aged 0-5 with disabilities may benefit from this program.
The online Master of Science in Special Education from Portland State University teaches students to be able to manage students with a wide range of learning, mental, and physical disabilities. This innovative online program allows students to complete a master’s degree as a stand-alone or in conjunction with a teacher licensure program. Graduates will be able to teach skills such as literacy and communication.
Classes include, but are not limited to:
- Research in special education
- Issues and practices in special education
- Special project (faculty-mentored)
Highly educated teachers are in high demand. Graduates may go on to work as literacy specialists, special education teachers, transition coordinators, and more. Graduates will be prepared to adapt and instruct students from mild to severe disabilities.
Math & Science
Gain a strong foundation in the sciences with this online bachelor’s in science that provides a basic mastery of multiple scientific fields. Examine the “limitless possibilities of science” and its real-world applications. Courses cover a variety of topics, including:
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental science and management
- Geography
Math and statistics and most other fields of science are also covered. You will work with an advisor to design your own program of study.
Psychology & Human Services
The online Bachelor of Social Science degree completion program from Portland State University will help you develop adaptable skills valued by employers in almost every industry. It offers particularly good preparation for careers in teaching, social work, counseling, and related fields. The curriculum focuses on developing students' knowledge and skills in:
- Writing & presentation
- Critical reasoning
- Social & environmental consciousness
- Research & analysis
- Creative problem solving
- Technological fluency
- Multimedia expertise
The online Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Portland State University is fully-online and provides a non-degree option, as well as in conjunction with a master’s degree. This unique program includes many areas of focus, including positive behavior interventions, behavioral support, telehealth, technology, and more. The part-time cohort format allows students to acquire the independent supervised field experience needed to sit for the credentialing examination.
Courses include, but are not limited to:
- Assessing behavior
- Ethical issues in behavior analysis
- Advanced research methods in ABA
Graduates can move forward into positions such as working in schools, day treatment centers, ABA provider agencies, homes, communities, and other organizations. Students will be familiar with parent training, substance abuse treatment, dementia management, occupational safety intervention, brain injury rehabilitation, and more. The online graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis sets graduates on a path to success.
Examine how best to support the emotional health and wellbeing of young children and their families in diverse situations with a Graduate Certificate in Infant and Toddler Mental Health. This program from Portland State University focuses on a relationship-based approach to support parents and children.
This human services certificate program is ideal for professionals working in mental health, special education, child welfare, social service, teaching, childcare, and healthcare. Students will study the most current research and interventions to become more effective service providers and advocates for young children. The program includes an individualized professional project to allow students to apply classroom knowledge to their workplace.
Subjects covered in this program include:
- Dynamics of infant and toddler development
- Risk factors for mental health problems in family environments
- Early screening and assessment
- Home and community based intervention
- Social, emotional, and developmental issues in infants, toddlers, and their families
- Diagnostic classification systems for mental health disorders of young children
Religion & Philosophy
You can gain a modern perspective on an ancient subject with the Bachelor in Philosophy from Portland State University. The online philosophy degree explores such topics as:
- Formal logic
- Biomedical ethics
- Science and pseudoscience
- International human rights
Through the online philosophy bachelor’s degree program, you study the nature of reality, existence, and knowledge. Your online studies lead you to such abilities as:
- Critical thinking
- Use of evidence
- Application of logic
- Formulation of rigorous arguments